“So I saw Will on Tuesday”
“Oh yeah? How’d it go?”
“Confusing. We both have feelings for each other but he keeps giving me mixed signals. He tells me he’s fallen for me and that he’s mine but in the next moment tells me there’s a wall around his heart because he knows he’s leaving the country again. The other Will, you know, Counter-Terrorist Will, thinks I should call it a day. He says if it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it’s a duck.”
“Yeah, wise words.”
“Sorry, what does that mean?”
“That actions speak louder than words, I suppose. But I get it. He is going to leave the country again and he is more practical about these things than, say, I am.”
“Fair enough. He does have a point and he does this a lot, doesn’t he? I mean Afghanistan one minute, New York the next….”
“Eh? No, not Counter-Terrorist-Will, other Will, the one I’ve been seeing for the last six months. Or not, as the case may be.”
“Ooh, I thought we were talking about Counter-Terrorist Will. Are you seeing him again? You kept that quiet”
“That’s because I'm not. Now, pay attention!”
“So tell me again. I’m confused. You and Will – who isn’t Counter Terrorist Will – really like each other but not enough to make it work when, or after, he eventually leaves the country?”
“That’s the long and short of it”
“Hmm”
Al, looks at me doubtfully for a minute as he tries to formulate a tactful question, one he hopes will help clarify the situation. Good luck, I think, I’ve been struggling with this one for months. I resort to metaphor.
“Its like Will and I…”
“You and Travelling Will not Counter Terrorist Will?” Al interjects, excitedly.
I nod, “..are on a large ship…”
“What? Like a cruiser?”
“Ah-huh…heading for an iceberg. If one of us doesn’t steer us away, we’re going to hit it. “
Al looks at me, unconvinced.
“…and disaster will strike?” I add unnecessarily.
“Tell me again, which one of you is the boat and which one of you is the iceberg?”
“Honestly Al, I’m losing the will…”
“Which one?” he replies.
